feeding an oustalets

[cr69g2]

i have an oustalets that seems to show little interest in roaches as a feeder...what other options would you guys recommend that is a decent size..he love crickets but he is to big to survive off them..i was thinking silkworms..any pros or cons..or suggestions

 

[eisentrauti]

general rule: big feeders like dubias shouldn't be longer as the chameleons mouth wide is. Some species are getting very fast problems with infections so always look for feeders which aren't so well-fortified

 

[chams1]

i have an oustalets that seems to show little interest in roaches as a feeder...what other options would you guys recommend that is a decent size..he love crickets but he is to big to survive off them..i was thinking silkworms..any pros or cons..or suggestions

Hi Carlos:

Not one of my chams like roaches either. Have you tried horn worms? You can get those and silkies at our show (Wheaton) this weekend...

 

[eisentrauti]

A hungry chameleon eats everything. If they don't eat them they get too much food !!!

 

[cr69g2]

hey julie...i think im gonna head to the show this weekend..thanks

 

[Julirs]

Neither of my Oustalets eats roaches. They love crickets, supers, horns, and silks. They are certainly NOT starving!

 

[eisentrauti]

But thats not the best way. In the nature they are forced to eat everything they can get - if they begin to choose out they have too much food

 

[Julirs]

But thats not the best way. In the nature they are forced to eat everything they can get - if they begin to choose out they have too much food

Not that I am trying to start a fight-but WHAT THE HECK DO YOU DO? They are certainly getting a variety. Did I misread your statement? If it is just one feeder and you can feed others, why stresss out about it? Oh-and again they are not "in nature"...

 

[eisentrauti]

I don't say anything against your variety of feeders - it's just a fact that chameleons which start to select have too much food

 

[Julirs]

So you have not heard about food boredom? Why risk an animals health in captivity?

 

[eisentrauti]

The health of a chameleon is not addicted of some food action. And we are talking about one of the most giant species. They probably won't have a problem eating 6 weeks nothing

 

[Julirs]

No-my female ate nothing to speak of for over 3 months once with no weight loss at all over winter, but again, why stress the animal or yourself if you can offer an alternate healthy food source?

 

[eisentrauti]

Why should this be stress ? Do you have any reference for your statement ?

 

[Julirs]

So you are saying just starve your animal by offering only one feeder because they "can" go months without eating?

 

[Cainschams]

Mine eat anything that I put in the cage Speaking of which, I caugt a mantis and grasshopper the other day. Time to watch them chow down!

 

[Chameleon Company]

Eisentrauti ...

But thats not the best way. In the nature they are forced to eat everything they can get - if they begin to choose out they have too much food

This statement, while logical, and other similar ones by you in this thread, are not supported by our observations here, which are many. I'll bet a Euro to a donut that our observations overwhelm yours in number exponentially. For whatever reason, chameleons will show either a spoiled preference for a specific food, or a disdain for another, where the reason is not "they have too much food". I do not have an explanation for this behavior, but we have seen random chameleons refuse eating, to the point of diminished health, if not given their favorite food. It could be something as simple as having a chameleon raised on crickets its entire life, which is then offered silkworms which it devours, and then refuses crickets once they are back on the menu, possibly to the point of weight loss and health complications from non-eating. I am not giving you a rational explanation, or a logical parallel from existence in the wild that would validate such self-destructive behavior. I suspect it is a result of captive husbandry vs. wild behavior, and unintended influences that result. Just noting that it happens, and "too much to eat" has been logically and scientifically ruled out on multiple occasions.

Julirs, you are dead-on.